Jaw pain is a very common disorder, affecting millions of people every day. Those suffering from jaw pain know how debilitating it can be, from a simple annoyance to a pain that prevents you from living the life you want. Did you know that massage can be a very effective treatment for jaw pain? In many cases, the muscles around the jaw can become tight, constricted and painful, just like they can in the shoulders or back. These painful muscles can themselves be a source of jaw pain, and in these cases massage to these muscles can have tremendous results. The forces applied by tight muscles to the sensitive and delicate tissues of the joint can also create wear and degeneration at the joint. Releasing the muscle can release pressure on the joint, and facilitate the healing process. Furthermore, the muscles of the jaw can be imbalanced between the right and left, and in these cases the jaw will not open and close with a smooth motion. Work on the muscles around the jaw can balance the muscles and smooth out jaw motion.
So how do you know that advanced jaw techniques might be right for you? If you have jaw pain, this work could help. In addition, many other conditions can benefit from intra-oral massage. These include headaches, neck pain, tooth pain, clicking or grinding in the jaw, tooth clenching, difficulty opening the jaw, even symptoms in the ears or behind the eyes. If you have multiple of the symptoms listed here, intra-oral massage could be particularly effective.
So what should you expect from intra-oral massage work? The muscles that we treat can only be accessed from within the mouth. That makes this modality feel more like a dental appointment than a massage appointment. We will work the muscles on the inside of the cheek, on the palate, and even under the tongue. Any of these muscles can harbor dysfunction that can lead to pain. Generally, this will take 20-30 minutes, depending on the dysfunction. This is a very sensitive area, and we don’t want to overwork the muscles because that can lead to increased irritation. Difficult and longstanding issues can require multiple applications of the treatment to obtain the desired results. If this sounds like what you need, schedule your consultation today!
